Freediving World Records: Depth and Pool

Two organisations ratify freediving world records, and they keep separate lists. AIDA International and CMAS each run their own competitions, train their own judges and operate their own ratification process, so the same discipline can carry two different world records at the same time. Neither list overrules the other.

This page lists both, side by side, for every depth and pool discipline, along with the absolute record, which is simply the better of the two marks.

Depth disciplines

Four depth disciplines are recognised by both organisations with comparable rules. In Constant Weight (CWT) the diver descends and ascends under their own power wearing fins, carrying the same ballast down and up. Constant Weight Bi-fins (CWTB) is the same discipline restricted to bi-fins rather than a monofin. Constant Weight No Fins (CNF) is swum without fins and is the hardest of the four. In Free Immersion (FIM) the diver uses no fins and pulls along the line in both directions.

The figures below are sea records. CMAS also ratifies a separate set of freshwater depth records, which are not directly comparable and are not listed here.

Depth, men

Klovar's 137 metre Free Immersion dive is the deepest ratified dive across all four of these disciplines, which is unusual. Free Immersion normally sits below Constant Weight, because pulling on a line is slower than finning.

Depth, women

Pool disciplines

Four pool disciplines are recognised by both organisations with comparable rules. Static Apnea (STA) is a motionless breath hold at the surface, measured in time. Dynamic With Fins (DYN), Dynamic With Bi-fins (DYNB) and Dynamic No Fins (DNF) are all horizontal distance swims on a single breath, separated by what the diver is allowed to wear on their feet.

All distances below were set in a 50 metre pool. CMAS also ratifies speed apnea events, which AIDA does not run, so those have no absolute equivalent and are not listed here.

Pool, men

Pool, women

How a world record is ratified

Both organisations use a similar process. The dive must be judged by an international judge of the appropriate level who is not from the athlete's country, the athlete must complete doping control, and uncut video of the attempt must be submitted and approved. For depth records, footage of the bottom plate and tag is also required. A dive that meets the distance or depth but fails any part of this does not become a record.

This is why a mark can appear as pending. The dive was performed and judged, but the doping result has not yet come back. CMAS marks these on its published sheets, and three of the figures above carry that flag.

Why the two lists differ

The gaps between the columns are not measurement errors. They exist because a record can only be set at a sanctioned competition of that organisation, so an athlete who competes mostly on one circuit will tend to hold that organisation's record. Rule details also differ in places, and the two bodies recognise slightly different discipline sets. CMAS runs speed apnea and maintains separate freshwater depth records. AIDA does not.

Some athletes are listed under different national affiliations by each organisation, and CMAS lists some competitors under a neutral CMAS flag rather than a country.

What these numbers mean if you are learning to freedive

Very little, and that is worth saying plainly. These are the results of full-time athletes with years of training, medical supervision and dedicated safety teams. They are not a target, a benchmark or a progression path for a recreational diver.

Recreational certification depths sit a long way below them. AIDA 2 requires 12 metres, and the maximum training depth on that course is 20 metres. If you are deciding where to start, the difference between AIDA 1 and AIDA 2 matters far more than anything on this page, and you can compare the course options directly.

Sources

Depth and pool figures are taken from the official record listings published by each organisation: the AIDA world records database, and the CMAS Freediving Commission record sheets for depth (sea) and indoor disciplines. AIDA figures were read from the AIDA records database. CMAS figures were read from the CMAS depth sheet dated 6 September 2026 and the CMAS indoor sheet dated 12 September 2026.